India logs strongest GDP growth in 18 months

New Delhi, Dec 8: Indian economy surged by 8.2 per cent last quarter, marking its strongest growth performance in 18 months. The question now is whether this pace can be sustained once the full effects of Washington’s trade measures kick in.

Washington’s tariff hikes, which pushed the duty on Indian exports to a massive 50 per cent in August, had sparked fears of a serious hit to export manufacturers. Yet the economy gained speed, partly because manufacturers rushed to front-load shipments ahead of the tariff deadlines, a surge that was reinforced by strong domestic demand.